How to Care for & Raise a Baby Chick as a Pet

Baby chicks are cute fuzzy little critters that are completely irresistible. However, a lot of time, and work goes into raising a baby chick. You can find baby chicks at almost any feed supply store. There are many different breeds of chickens, but a good supplier will be able to tell you exactly what breed your buying. Baby chicks usually cost between $1.00 - $3.00 per chick. Rare breeds of chickens of course cost a little more, and are usually only bought directly through the breeder. Chicks are a common gift given at Easter and spring time, without second thought of the care, and supplies they will need.

When buying a chick you will need a wire cage, water and feed containers, grit (finely ground feed), and a heat source. Newly hatched chicks under a week old should be kept at 90 degrees at all time. After the first week you can drop 5 degrees until the chick is 4 weeks old. The easiest way to make sure your chicks stay warm is to provide them with a heat lamp indoors.

Even though wire cages are best for a chick, and adult chickens. While your chick is indoors you can place a thick piece of newspaper under the cage to prevent droppings from damaging the surface in which the cage sets on. You can also add dried oak leaves to the inside of the cage. The leaves will help keep the chick warm, give the chick something to play with, and help absorb the droppings. To prevent your chick from getting sick, you should clean the cage at least every other day. Do not use saw dust in the chicks cage until the chick is at least 6 weeks old. Small chicks can mistake the saw dust as food, and eat it, causing blockage.